What the Well-Dressed Z Owner Wears

[TomoHawk]

I selected the Black & Mild with a wood tip.  I also plugged the hole in the tip, because I don't care for the taste of raw tobacco any more.  I still end up spitting a lot tho;  apparently the flavour still gets through to get the 'juices' going.

It still takes a bit of discipline to drive with the thing in your mouth, without letting it fall out as you look around or do things. So you can practice your 'cigar grin' whilst you look classy and drive your classic sports car. 

[TomoHawk]

I was able to fashion a period-looking driver's suit using some coveralls, and some iron-on transfers and patches.  Then I fire-proofed it using the borax method.  Most people thought it was done well and fit in with the vintage racers we had at an event I attended in August.  I was interested in something that was more form-fitting, even though driving suits aren't supposed to be glamorous.  A Jogging suit would suffice, but they are usually of a synthetic material, not cotton or wool, but I will keep looking at the Salvation Army store just in case.

 

Edited October 18, 2016 by TomoHawk

[psdenno]

Looks like the garb is coming together.  If fire resistant is what you're after, check out the surplus nomex at https://store.glennsarmysurplus.com/usaf-usgi-issue-nomex-flight-suits-cwu-27p-od--tan-p309.aspx

By the way, the wrist watch is a nice period touch.  But is it a Rolex?  Needs to be a Rolex - a black dial Submariner or GMT.

Dennis

Edited October 18, 2016 by psdenno

[TomoHawk]

I found the same ad for the surplus chopper pilot suits before, but for some reason, it doesn't look like a driver's suit.  (Maybe it does.)  I researched the vintage garb, and that is what I came up with.  The fireproofing is also part of the period "look" although it does nothing to change how the fabric looks.  You can just consider it 'authentic' even with the thin cigar I was biting.  Sorry, I have to wear the sneakers instead of the "boxing" shoes they often wore.  I might buy a pair of wrestling shoes if I can get some with Velvco straps.

My watch is a WWII replica aviator's watch I got via a 4 am infomercial. I wear it as well as my yacht racing chronograph.  Besides- you need a watch for those vintage racing weeks anyway.  The only thing I didn't have with me is a Zippo lighter.

[psdenno]

A Zippo....forgot about those.  Everyone carried one back then.  You had to be able to open it in a cool way like cracking an egg or snapping it open between your fingers, one handed.

dennis

[TomoHawk]

The "Zippo Technique" with the snapping fingers was a standard college thing.  The history of the Zippo is interesting, when you get time; it was another WWII invention, like the b-ration and safety razor.

I'm not so sure about the Rolex being a standard driver's accessory.  Those guys usually didn't have much money (Sir Stirling Moss told stories about how he would survive on 1/2 quid a day, plus free fruit) so something as costly as a Rolex, IMO, was probably for the Sponsored champions

[psdenno]

4 hours ago, TomoHawk said:

I'm not so sure about the Rolex being a standard driver's accessory.  Those guys usually didn't have much money (Sir Stirling Moss told stories about how he would survive on 1/2 quid a day, plus free fruit) so something as costly as a Rolex, IMO, was probably for the Sponsored champions

But, if we're talking about 1970, retail price on a new Rolex was just $207.  Not Timex price territory, but not totally beyond reach.  Granted, that was about two months take home pay for a minimum wage worker at that time in history.  But, not out of the question for a nattily dressed steely eyed sports car owner of that era.  Wish I had bought mine in 1970.

[siteunseen]

I think a mustache would be period correct.  

 

[TomoHawk]

I hope you don't mean something the the Black Gold commercial man...

I only have a mustache in the winter.

BTW- $200 in 1970 would be about 500, when you figure in inflation.  My Citizen Navisail chronograph  was more than that back in 2000.

Edited October 19, 2016 by TomoHawk

[black gold man]

Here is a helmet for you https://detroit.craigslist.org/search/sss?sort=rel&query=racing helment

Were is the stopwatch.

Is that the green car you had under the red.

 

If anybody wants to be like TomoHawk  I think 10 grand to much but a fun car to drive.  https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/5832062543.html

[psdenno]

28 minutes ago, TomoHawk said:

BTW- $200 in 1970 would be about 500, when you figure in inflation.  My Citizen Navisail chronograph  was more than that back in 2000.

Actually, according to the Consumer Price Index inflation calculator, 200 1970 dollars would be equal to $1,241 in 2016.  Bring back those days when $3,600 bought a new Z and $30,000 bought a very nice four bedroom house in a good neighborhood.  How times change.

Dennis

[TomoHawk]

That tribute car has a large number of errors, like the fog lamps.  The knock-offs didn't have the yellow stuff or a cavallino, because Ferrari didn't make wheels- Boranni made them.